Boston Celtics summer league 2017: Ante Zizic adjusting, says he'll be '100 percent ready' for NBA game by regular season

Updated July 10, 2017 at 12:09 AM;Posted July 9, 2017 at 11:40 PM

Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Briscoe (27) and Boston Celtics center Ante Zizic (54) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game Monday, July 3, 2017, in Salt Lake City.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Briscoe (27) and Boston Celtics center Ante Zizic (54) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game Monday, July 3, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

LAS VEGAS -- After his best summer league game to date, Boston Celtics big man Ante Zizic offered a fair assessment of his comfort level.

"I need just a little bit of time because this is my fifth game here," Zizic said. "So I'm doing my best -- actually, I expect a little bit more from myself. But like I said, I need just a little bit of time to (adjust) to this style of game."

Zizic started this past season in Croatia and finished it with David Blatt's team in Turkey. Though the 2016 Celtics draft pick posted impressive stats at each stop, the NBA style and athleticism represents a significant difference.

The adjustment hasn't come immediately. Zizic has played on a tape delay at times, struggling to keep up on the perimeter, reacting a stop slow with his help defense, looking very much like a 20-year-old adapting to a new environment.

"Everything is much faster. But I think right now, today I played really good," Zizic said after notching nine points, 11 rebounds and four blocks during a 70-64 win

against the Portland Trail Blazers. "Just want to give congratulations to my teammates because we played good on both sides of the floor so I think we're going to keep winning."

"The game is much faster," he repeated. "But for me that's not a problem. After training camp I will be ready 100 percent for this style of game. And of course there's a lot of -- here, they prefer a game of 1-on-1. And I'll find my role."

Even after agreeing to sign Aron Baynes, the Celtics don't have much beef in the frontcourt. They could use another physical presence, but it's unclear whether Zizic will be ready for a regular role when the season hits.

"I think he's just getting comfortable with the game," said summer league coach Walter McCarty. "A lot of times he goes to the rim, he's sealing for such a long time that by the time the play happens so fast and gets downcourt, he's a step behind. So I think he's finding the medium of sealing, it's not there, don't get the offensive rebound, I don't have it, recognize it, and get out down the court."

Added McCarty: "(He) really just (needs to) learn the terminology, the lingo that we use, just run the floor, getting deep seals, rebounding, and just getting comfortable with DHOs (dribble handoffs), handling the ball up top and being able to make plays," said summer league coach Walter McCarty. "Right now he has to be able to get low and get in the triple threat because he's just standing straight up when their pressuring him and not allowing him to run the play. So we've just got to get him comfortable with that, and just get used to playing in a triple-threat and handling the ball out top."